SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
NXT TV REPORT
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
ORLANDO, FL AT THE WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON THE CW
REPORT BY DAVID MILLER, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Correspondent: Sarah Schreiber
[HOUR ONE]
-The show opened with a recap of Heat Wave, which was filled with title changes, a surprising heel turn by Myles Borne, and Nattie tapping out to a sharpshooter from Jaida Parker.
-New NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan and Shiloh Hill were shown entering the arena.
-Zilla Fatu made his ring entrance. The blue lasers crisscrossing his shirt was a cool effect. He said he took an L this past Sunday, and he didn’t get the job done. He said it still felt amazing to be in a WWE ring, fighting for a championship. He was interrupted by the arrogant Englishman, Tristan Angels. He called for order and talked down Fatu. Zilla said he thought he was the only nepo baby here and called him Gangrel Junior. Angels took a swing at Fatu, who ducked it and delivered one of his own. Angels scrambled to safety on the floor.
-In GM Robert Stone’s office, E.K. Prosper and Saquon bickered with each other over who should get a title shot against Waller. After they simmered down, they complimented each other’s matches before Keanu Carver walked in and said they both made good cases, but weren’t the only ones looking for a title shot and asked Stone what he was going to do. Stone didn’t answer before they cut to the next segment.
-The Progressive NXT Spotlight shined on the new feud between Naraku and Shiloh Hill. [c]
-An X video showed Myles Borne talking about what he did to Tavion. He said he watched it a hundred times. He said he didn’t regret defending both titles on the same night, but he swung and struck out. He said he knew that Tavion would snap on him if they lost the titles, so he got Tavion before Tavion got him. He said he was naive enough to think he could make friends and win titles, then said it sucks.
(Miller’s Take: That was excellent. When someone turns heel, they need to feel like they’re justified in their actions. Borne didn’t come across as heelish, but he made good points and came across very sincere and believable.)
(1) SHILOH HILL vs. NARAKU
Naraku looked extremely confident while Hill looked cautious. They traded offense in the opening minutes of the match, but Naraku stopped Hill’s momentum by shoving him off the ropes. After Hill took a nasty tumble to the floor, Naraku followed him out and began clearing the announce desk, much to Vic Joseph’s chagrin. Even though it looked like there was going to be more action, it was the first floor spot, so they were required to cut to a commercial break. [c]
When they returned, Naraku had Hill on the mat, working him over. He bounced his head off the turnbuckle as the fans tried to rally Hill. After a thunderous chop from Naraku, Hill blocked a second one and mounted a comeback. He hit his standing somersault senton that looked like it really hurt Naraku. Hill took an amazing fireman’s carry into a sit-out powerbomb by Naraku, but Hill fired back. They took each other out with clotheslines. As they crawled to opposite corners, the camera showed Naraku surreptitiously spraying green mist into his hand. As he got up to take a swing at Hill, Shiloh ducked, Naraku pulled his punch, and the referee turned away to avoid getting hit himself. With the referee cowering, Naraku rubbed the mist in Hill’s face, then delivered an Enter the Abyss for the three-count.
WINNER: Naraku at 9:59.
(Miller’s Take: This was fine. The mist was a subject of discussion throughout the match, with the announcers astutely pointing out that Hill seemed wary of being misted. This was a good return for Naraku, and he got some of his heat back after a failed attempt to win the NXT title.)
-”Earlier today” in the men’s dressing room, Dar & Moreno were bickering with Legacy & DVD over who was better. [c]
-Vic Joseph announced that there would be a match tonight between Zilla Fatu and Tristan Angels.
(2) ROMEO MORENO & NOAM DAR vs. DORIAN VAN DUX & SEAN LEGACY
Legacy and Moreno started the match at 100 m.p.h. before tagging out to their respective partners, who did not slow down the pace at all. DVD turned Dar inside out with a vicious clothesline that even dropped the jaw of Legacy. Dar managed to make the tag to Moreno. All four men began fighting, with Dar and Moreno sinking in stereo anklelocks. They took the fight to the outside, where Legacy and DVD landed a couple of high-impact moves before they, of course, cut to a commercial break. [c]
When they returned from the break, DVD was in control of Moreno. He landed a perfect moonsault for a near fall before both men again tagged out. Dar staggered Legacy with some kicks, then took him down with an armbar. Legacy broke the hold by lifting Dar and dumping him on top of his partner, who had been laid out by DVD. Moreno hit a beautiful springboard dive onto Legacy on the floor. Back in the ring, Dar accidentally laid out his own partner. Legacy attempted a 450 splash, but Dar got his knees up, then rolled up Legacy for the pin.
WINNERS: Romeo Moreno & Noam Dar at 11:44.
(Miller’s Take: As expected, this was a fast and furious encounter, but without much selling or psychology. Fun to watch, but hard to get emotionally engaged in, especially with both teams being fan favorites. I would have been fine with either team winning.)
-After the match, both teams were attacked by the returning Creed brothers, Brutus and Julius. The crowd cheered in approval, even though the dastardly heels were beating down four faces. I may just be old, but I miss the days when faces were cheered and heels were booed.
-In GM Stone’s office, he asked Zaria which Championship she would choose to keep active. She said the last person to hold both titles is gone, and so is the Speed title, then handed it to Stone. That was an obvious choice. Stone turned to Lexis King, who was standing by with his merry men, and told him that meant his Speed Championship was now defunct and asked him to relinquish it. I guess King doesn’t even get the same chance Wren Sinclair did, but oh well, both of those worthless titles are now, thankfully, gone. BirthRight had something of a cow, and hinted that they planned to make some sort of impact.
-As they left, Cruz Montana came in to request a title match against Waller. Keanu Carver again walked up and told Stone that in addition to Montana, Tony D’Angelo is going to want a rematch, and it sucks to be him. Montana said Carver had a point.
-The new women’s champ was shown proudly walking the hallway with her newly won gold draped over her shoulder. Actually, the belt is nickel-plated, but it’s just an expression. [c]
-New NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan was introduced to the NXT faithful. She referred to herself as one-shot Lani, and put herself over. She stopped the “you deserve it” chants before they gained momentum, saying she earned it.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
Check out the latest episode of “PWT Talks NXT” with Kelly Wells and Nate Lindberg, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)
[HOUR TWO]
She told the fans not to jump on the KJ bandwagon now, and admitted that Grey put up a good fight, but then heeled it up by saying Grey was in the hospital with vertigo while her lil’ buddy Wren was taking care of her. She bragged about winning the Women’s North American title, TNA Knockouts title, and now this one on her first try.
-Jaida Parker’s music his as Jordan complained that she wasn’t finished. Parker told her she earned that belt, but she wasn’t the only one to make her mark at Heat Wave, because she got rid of the biggest thorn in her side and “tapped her little ass out”. She said she’s upped her game and had already beaten Jordan. She said she had her gear in the back and challenged her to a title match tonight. Jordan told Parker she was all talk and still three levels below her. She teased the crowd, then said not tonight. She said she’d see her next week, and rolled out of the ring. Hail’s music hit as the champ walked back. They gave each other the side-eye before Hail slid in the ring and gave Parker a hug before her scheduled match against Nikkita Lyons. [c]
(3) THEA HAIL vs. NIKKITA LYONS
This was a non-title match, and we were reminded via replay how Karmen Petrovic bailed on Team Nattie at Heat Wave, essentially dissolving the trio. Besides Hail running off Lyons during that match, she also unsuccessfully challenged Lyons for her Evolve Women’s title a couple of weeks back on the purple brand. Hail ducked a couple of spin kicks from Lyons, then tackled her and went to work on the left arm. Lyons caught Hail as she attempted a flying press, and tossed her aside. She executed a nasty throat-first slingshot into the bottom rope that completely changed the color of the match.
Lyons grounded Hail as she twisted her head, but Hail stood up with it and dropped Big Kat Kita. She went back to the arm, then hit a blockbuster for a near fall. Lyons hit Hail with a straight right hand for a near fall. She landed a spin kick this time, but Hail recovered to hit her backward springboard senton for the pin.
WINNER: Thea Hail at 4:23.
(Miller’s Take: This was about what I expected, although it could have been a lot more. It was just a quick and easy way for Hail to get even with Lyons for losing her title bid thanks to Sloane Jacobs. This should put her in contention for another title shot.)
-Mason Rook made his ring entrance before the next commercial break. [c]
-Vic Joseph announced that hip-hop superstar Quavo would perform live at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Again, I’m old. Never heard of the dude, but I’m glad to know he’s performing on the show. Helps me plan my bathroom breaks. He also announced that due to repeated blows to the side of the head where her previous injury occurred, former women’s champ Kendal Grey will be out for the foreseeable future.
(4) MASON ROOK vs. KAM HENDRIX
Hendrix barely set foot on the entrance ramp before he was mauled by Rook. He pitched him into the ring and continued the assault until Hendrix was able to move out of the way of a splash. The fight went to the floor, where Hendrix chucked Rook into the ring steps. He rolled Rook back into the ring and kept the momentum rolling with a senton and a near fall. Hendrix continued with his cocky, crisp offense to keep his much larger foe grounded. A crisscross resulted in Hendrix running into a brick wall in Rook, who followed up with a blue thunder bomb for a near fall.
Hendrix attempted to distract the referee while he pulled off the turnbuckle pad, but the ref caught him. As he jawed with the official, Rook splashed him from behind, sending him sternum-first into the now padless corner. He whipped him into it, then delivered a high backdrop. He accentuated his point with a sit-out powerbomb for the win.
WINNER: Mason Rook at 4:55.
(Miller’s Take: Not much to say about this one way or the other. Hendrix is such a good heel that he can eat a few losses and not lose much heat. Rook needed the win more, in my opinion.)
-In the back, Sarah Schreiber asked Tavion Heights for his thoughts on what happened with Borne and the social media post that was shown earlier. An emotional Heights said he was confused about what Borne said. He said he was never going to stab Borne in the back. A smug Vanity Project walked up and ridiculed him. Heights told Jackson he knows the only reason he has the North American title is because Borne had already wrestled a match. He challenged Drake to a title match, and Drake said he’d go talk to stone. I’m sure that’s not going to sit well with Borne.
(5) TRISTAN ANGELS vs. ZILLA FATU
Angels used some underhanded tactics to gain the early upper hand, but got too cocky and paid for it. Fatu went for a pin on Angels, but didn’t even get a count because they were in the ropes. With Angels on the floor, Fatu sailed through the ropes with a suicide dive than knocked Angels over the announce desk. Back in the ring, Angels dispatched Fatu to the floor, which was shockingly followed by a commercial break. [c]
Back from the break, Fatu was attempting a comeback. He seemed to have a bloody mouth as he went after Angels. The former Mr. England finalist moved out of the way of a charging Fatu, who crashed into the corner. Fatu, however, landed a pop-up Samoan drop, followed by what appeared to be a running Samoan spike for the pin.
WINNER: Zilla Fatu at 9:39.
(Miller’s Take: Angels was good fodder for Fatu’s first singles match. Like Kam Hendrix earlier, Angels is such a wonderful heel that he can afford a few losses. This wasn’t much more than a vehicle to put Fatu over and it served it’s purpose.)
-After the match, BirthRight came out to run their mouths. Charlie Dempsey told Fatu that he’s just like them, but nobody takes them seriously. He said they do take Fatu seriously and proposed that he join them so they can run the place. He told Fatu that if he went to The Bloodline, he’d be at the bottom of the pecking order. Lexis King tried to sweet-talk him into it. Fatu declined the invitation via a superkick to King’s mouth, then slid out of the ring to avoid a beatdown by the rest of King’s crew.
-Grayson Waller was shown making his way into the building before the next break. [c]
-Vic Joseph ran down next week’s card, including Jordan defending agaisnt Parker, and Drake defending against Heights.
-GM Robert Stone stood mid-ring and introduced new NXT Champion Grayson Waller. He taunted the crowd, asking them if they were surprised he won. He took digs at Stone and Vic Joseph, too. He said he’s main evented Raw and SmackDown, and won a title at WrestleMania, but this means more. He then thanked the people responsible for getting him there…himself. He told Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce he’d get back with them when he’s ready. He then challenged Fatu, Montana, and D’Angelo.
-He was interrupted by Saquon Shugars, who was apparently getting dressed before he came out because his shirt was only half on. Montana made his way through the crowd to say his peace. He was quickly interrupted by E.K. Prosper, who pled his case for a title match. Rook then came out to challenge Waller, who made a joke about preparing the widescreen camera before an angry Tony D. came out to say none of them deserved a title shot, and demanded a rematch.
-Keanu Carver crashed the proceedings next. He told Stone it looks like he has a situation, but he has the solution, and proposed a six-man tag for next week, with the winning team participating in a triple threat match the following week to determine a number one contender. A dense Stone pointed out that there were only five men in the ring challenging Waller. Carver told him he was in a jam and better make the most important decision of his life. Stone got the picture and made the tag team match. Waller slid out of the ring as Carver took a swing at him and watched from ringside as all six men began brawling before the show ended.
FINAL THOUGHTS: The new champions, all heels, got their time to gloat, some of them more than others. The only defeated champion not on the show was Kendal Grey, who I think would do well with a cooling off period. I’m not a fan of quick title changes, but I’d love to see Jaida Parker dethrone Kelani Jordan next week, partly because I’m a huge fan of Miss Parker, but also because it’s so much fun to see Jordan pop a cork and whine. You can see from a mile away what will happen in the match between Heights and Drake. Decent follow-up show to Heat Wave. See you next week!
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